Tea exports during January to June declined 0.81 per cent to 96.49 million kg as against 97.28 million kg in the corresponding period a year ago, according to Tea Board data.
Exports from North India, comprising mainly Assam and North Bengal, marginally increased to 59.16 million kg compared with 59.09 million kg in the year-ago period, it said.
Secretary-General of Indian Tea Association (ITA) A Raha said it is unlikely that exports during 2023 will surpass the figures of 2022. The main cause for this is a slump in demand in the export markets and drop in shipments to Iran, due to payment issues with that country.
Iran has traditionally been a major importer of Indian tea after the CIS bloc.